BAHC80! 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


LIBRARY 

CATALOGUE 

OF 

CURIOSITIES 

FOR  SALE  BY 

F.    M.   GILHAM, 

1122  EIGHTH  STREET, 
OAKLAND.  OAL. 


CATALOGUE 


CURIOSITIES 

FOR   SALE   BY 

F.  M.  GILHAM, 

1122  Eighth  Street,  Oakland,   Cal 


Duplicates  of  this  Catalogue  mailed  on  receipt  of  2  cent 
Stamp, 


HORNED  TOADS. 

Of  these  I  have   some   very  fine  specimens,  4£ 
inches  long  and  nicely  stuffed. 
EACH..  II  50 


All  Articles  in  this  Catalogue  sent  to  any  part  of 
the  Union,  by  Registered  Mail,  on  Receipt  of  Price. 


Indian  Bead  Work,  War  Clubs,  Blankets,  Etc. 

Moccasins — Papoose  size,  buckskin,  partly  bead 
ed,  per  pair $  1  75 

Moccasins— Large  size,  buckskin,  partly  beaded, 
Per  Pair 3  75 

Moccasins— Large  size,  buckskin,  all  beaded 
Per  pair , 5  00 

Calumet,  or  Peace  Pipe  of  the  North  American 
Indians,  is  made  of  red  pipe  stone,  (catlinite), 
found  in  Dakota.  The  stem  is  about  two  feet  long, 
made  of  wood  or  reed 5  00 

Knife  Scabbards— Animal  hide  and  all  beaded 
on  one  side,  each 3  59 

Paint  Bags — Small  buckskin  pouches,  ornament 
ed  with  beads,  etc 1  59 

Bows  and  Arrows— Bow  wrapped  with  sinew 
and  thirteen  pointed  war  arrows,  each.. . .  10  00 

Arrows  with  flint  points,  each 50 

Arrows  with  iron  points,  each 50 

Navajo  Blankets —These  Blankets  are  made  by 
the  Navajo  Indians  by  hand,  and  are  well  known 
for  their  gay  colors  and  water-proof  qualities; 
large  size,  each 10  00 

Navajo  Saddle  Blankets— Small  size  . .         3  00 

Papoose  Boards— Finely  beaded,  each. .         7  50 

In  Indian  Curiosities  I  have  the  finest 
and  most  varied  collection  of  anyone  on 
the  Pacific  Coast.  All  articles  have  been 
collected  by  myself  and  could  not  be  dupli 
cated  at  any  price.  Parties  wishing  to 
purchase  the  entire  outfit  can  do  so  at  one- 
tenth  what  it  cost  me.  Such  a  collection 
could  not  be  got  together  at  the  present 
time. 

Any  letter  in  regard  to  the  collection  will 
be  promptly  answered. 


IVORY   SKULL. 
A  very  rare  curiosity,  carved  by 
the   Japanese.      Perfect   in   form, 
and  about  the  size  of  the  engrav 
ing.  Each,  $1  50. 

These  Buttons  are  made  by  the  Chi 
nese  of  some  very  rare  green  stone. 

The  eye  and  button  are  all  on  one  piece. 
Diameter,  7-16  inch,  or  about  -the  size  of 
the  engraving.  , 

They  are  extensively  used  by  ladies  for  dress  use 
and  charms.          Price  each,  25  cents. 

TOOTHPICKS,    made    by 
the  Japanese,  and  done  up  in 
the     form    of      an     umbrella. 
Three  and  a-half  inches  long. 
One  dozen  umbrellas,  15  cents. 

Japanese  Pen   Holder 
and  Paper  Cutter. 
Made  of  very  hard  dark  wood  and  finely  carved. 
Length,  8  inches.     Each,  50  cents. 

Japanese  Paper  Knife 
made    of    bamboo    and 
finely  carved.     Length,  1 1  inches;  width,  1£  inches. 
Each,  50  cents. 

Japanese  Pipe  Cases. 

^_ Made   of    bone   and     finely 

carved.     Length,  8  inches;  diameter,  1  inch. 
Price  each,  $1  50. 


This  novelty  is  used  by  the  Chinese  to  scratch 
their  backs.  Length  of  handle,  17  inches,  length 
ot  hand  1 J  inches  arid  1  inch  wide.  The  handle  is 
made  of  clarified  horn  and  the  hand  of  white  bone, 
neatly  carved.  Each,  $1  00. 


MOSS  AGATE 
WATCH  CHAKMS. 


Sprays  of-moss  are  plainly  seen  imbedded  in  these 
beautiful  charms,  the  stone  being  semi-translucent. 
Every  lover  of  the  rare  and  wonderful  in  nature, 
highly  prize  th<  se  gems  of  the  Far  West.  They 
are  polished  with  a  high  gloss  by  expert  lapidists. 
Price,  50  cents  each. 

Moss  Agate  Pebbles — Just  as  they  are  found, 
about  the  size  of  a  chestnut;  odd  for  pocket  pieces 
or  cabinets.  These,  as  well  as  the  watch  cliarms 
were  found  in  the  Sweetwater  country,  Wyoming. 
Price,  10  cents  each. 

Clouded   Agate   Charms 
ready  to  mount. 

These  make  a  beautiful  watch 
chaim.     Each,  $1  00. 

This  shell  comes  from  Victoria, 
B.  C.,  and  is  found  there  in  deep 
water.  Length,  2$  inches. 

Price,   10  cents  each. 

Pvattle    snake    rattles.       Some 
very  fine  specimens. 


Price  according  to  length,  fifty 
cents  to  one  doll;  r. 


This  Image  or  Chinese  "Josh," 
is  carved  from  a  Walrus  Tooth, 
and  varies  in  length  and  form. 

They  average  about  2|  inches 
in  length. 

Price,  each  $2  00. 

AMBER,  with  a  green  bug 
imbedded  in  the  center,  a  hole 
in  the  top  so  as  to  be  used  for 
a  charm.  Each  piece  is  about 
the  size  of  the  engraving  or  a 
trifle  larger.  Each,  $1  00. 

FISH  HOOKS. 

Made   by  the  Alaska 
Indians. 

The  curved  part  is 
made  of  some  very  hard 
tough,  da  r  k-c  o  1  o  r  e  d 
wood,  while  the  hork  or 
cross  piece  is  made  of 
bone  and  about  5  1-5  inches  long,  fastened  with 
sinews.  The  Hook  is  7  inches  long  by  about  3* 
inches  deep. 

I  have  but  a  few  of  these,  and  do  not  know  where 
to  get  any  more.     Each  $1  75. 

Pink   Coral,    varying   in 
length  from  3  to  4  inches. 
Each,  $1  00. 

California  Star  Fish ...Each  25  cts. 

Mexican       "          ' «      25    " 

Sea  FirufS «     95    " 

Cat,  Eyes,  Japan (,     oc    « 

Eye  Stones    "      


6 
The  Tarantula  or  Trap  Door  Spider 


Of  these  I  have  the  very  finest  and  largest  to  be 
had,  as  I  have  a  chance  to  select  them.  They  are 
staffed,  mounted  on  card  board  and  nicely  boxed. 
Length,  5  inches;  width,  4  inches.  Each  $1  50. 

This  is  the  largest  of  our  American  spiders. 
The  male  is  large,  strong,  long-legged  and  com 
pletely  covered  with  coarse  brown  hair.  The  palpi 
are  unusually  well  developed  and  armed  with  poi- 
sunoifs  fangs.  Each  of  the  anterior  legs  has  a  pro 
jection  on  the  under  side  with  which  to  hold  off 
an  enemy  while  the  fangs  are  at  work  inserting  the 
poison.  He  lives  in  a  hole  (in  the  ground),  with 
a  silken  lining  and  open  at  the  top,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  a  web  during  the  day.  A  deserted  mole 
or  gopher  hole  seems  to  answer  his  purpose  as  well 
as  anything.  About  sundown  he  removes  his  web 
and  rests  in  the  hole  with  the  tarsi  of  the  anterior 
legs  just  above  the  surface,  ready  to  rush  out  upon 
some  unsuspecting  grasshopper  or  other  prey. 

At  this  time  he  is  easily  taken.  A  little  water 
poured  into  the  hole  will  usually  drive  him  out, 
but  that  is  not  always  convenient. 


The  female  is  much  smaller,  more  slender  and  of 
a  beautiful  piceous  black.  She  is  rarely  seen  ex 
cept  when  forced  from  her  house,  and  will  gen 
erally  prefer  drowning  to  forsaking  her  offspring. 
This  house,  in  which  she  rears  her  young,  is  a 
wonderful  piece  of  architecture.  It  is  a  cemented 
earthern  tube,  running  down  in  the  ground  from 
five  to  ten  inches,  then  horizontally  two  to  three 
inches  and  furnished  at  the  surface  or  top  with  a 
perfect  D- shaped  lid,  securely  hinged  on  the  flat 
side  and  perfectly  water  tight.  The  whole  inside 
of  the  house  is  lined  with  a  beautiful  white  silken 
web  and  in  the  lining  of  the  lid  there  are  two 
holes,  in  which  she  inserts  her  fangs  to  hold  it 
shut  in  case  of  danger.  It  requires  a  practiced 
eye  to  discover  these  houses.  4 

Tarantula  Nests  or  Houses, 


The  tarantula  nest  is  one  of  the  most  curious  as 
well  as  wonderful  pieces  of  insect  mechanism 
known,  and  is  a  valuable  addition  to  any  cabinet. 

The  few  I  have  of  these  have  been  selected  from 
a  lot  of  a  hundred. 

Price,  each  $1  50. 


8 


ABALONE  SHELL  ORNAMENTS. 


No.  11 
75  cts. 


No.  12 
60  cts. 


No.   13 
50  cts. 


No.   14 
60  cts. 


t 


No.  15  No.   16  No.  17  No.  18 

50  cts.  50  cts.  50  cts.  75  cts. 

These  ornaments  are  about  the  size  of  the  en 
gravings  and  they  make  beautiful  watch  charms 
and  bangles. 

PESCADERO  PEBBLES  from  Pescadero  -peb 
ble  beach,"  pronounced  by  scientists  'absolutely 
unique,  and  one  of  the  most  fascinating  spots  in 
the  worl  1.  Per  dozen,  25  cts. 

ELK  IVORIES  or  the  ivory  teeth  of  elk,  sus 
ceptible  of  high  polish  and  valuable  and  unique  for 
jewelry,  50  cents. 

Also  antelope  horns  in  natural  state,  black  like 
ebony  and  very  pretty  curiosities,  75  cts. 

PAPER  CUTTERS  or  knives,  made  from  the 
horns  of  the  antelope  and  deer.  A  novel  and  use 
ful  ornament  for  any  desk.  Each,  §1  50. 


Abafone  Shell  Pins  or  Hat  Ornaments. 


No.  25  $1  75      No.  26  $1  75       No.  27  $1  50 

They  are  from  2|  to  3  inches  long,  with  pin  on 
the  back.  They  make  beautiful  shawl  pins  or  hat 
ornaments. 

WYOMING  OPAL  STONES,  hard  and  trans- 
lucent,  now  very  popular  for  jewelry  because  of 
their  novelty,  also  valuable  for  specimens  and  for 
cabinets.  Each  50  cts. 

WYOMING  AGATIZED  WOOD,  petrified  as 
hard  as  crystal,  and  suitable  for  cabinet  specimens 
and  jewelry.  Each  50  ct  •. 

FOSSIL  SHELLS  or  Corbicula,  which  Prof, 
Aughey  says  are  a  million  and  a -l:alf  years  old. 
Found  on  high  and  dry  land,  ten  thousand 
above  the  sea  level.  Each  50  cts. 

PORCUPINE  QUILLS,  25  cents  per  dozen. 


10 


WALRUS  TOOTH. 

H    to   2^  inches  long. 
Each  50  cents. 

WALRUS   SKIN. 

This  makes  a  very  fine  cabinet  specimen,  as  it 
looks  like  bark  from  the  big  trees.  Cabinet  size 
pieie,  one  inch  thick.  Each  25  cts. 

WHALE   TEETH Each  75  cts. 

BUFFALO  TEETH .         "      25    " 

Japanese  Cash  Swords  (made  with  about  100 
coins),  very  fine,  each  $2  50 

The .  Resurrection   Plant. 

A   Natural  Curiosity  from   Acapulco,   Mexico 

This  singular  plant  is  really  one  of  the 
wonders  of  creation.  Imagine  a  bunch  of 
withered  looking,  curled  up  shoots,  brown, 
stiff,  and  apparently  dead,  resembling  a 
bird's  nest.  Place  it  in  water,  in  half  an 
hour  what  a  transformation !  The  withered 
loDking  bunch  has  now  opened  and  is  trans 
formed  into  a  lovely  patch  of  moss,  entirely 
covering  an  ordinary  plate.  In  its  native 
habitat,  when  the  dry  season  sets  in,  the 
plant  curls  up  into  a  round  ball  and  is 
wafted  away  by  winds  from  place  to  place, 
sometimes  for  hundreds  of  miles,  whqn  at 
last  it  reaches  a  moist  spot  it  gradually  un 
folds  itself,  makes  new  roots  and  thrives  in 
its  new  found  home.  This  sensitiveness  to  . 
moisture  is  so  great  that  even  after  the  plant 
may  seem  dead  it  will  open  and  close  as  if 
it  were  alive.  Price,  20  cts.  each. 


11 

THE   ROAD   RUNNER. 


This  curious  bird  is  found  in  Southern  Califor 
nia  and  parts  of  Mexico.  Its  color  is  a  mixture  of 
black  and  gray,  with  the  tail  and  wing  feathers  of 
a  rich  olive  green.  Its  tail  is  about  10  inches  long 
and  is  constantly  bobbing  up  and  clown.  There  is 
a  crest  of  dark-blue  feathers  on  the  head  and  be 
neath  this  a  strip  of  bright  red  skin.  Its  legs 
are  rather  short  and  muscular,  and  can  carry  him 
along  at  a  very  swift  rate.  Its  wings  are  short 
and  are  only  used  to  carry  him  short  distances.  It 
builds  a  nest  about  12  inches  in  circumference  out 
of  twigs  and  grass  in  a  shrub  or  cactus.  Out  here  it 
is  generally  in  an  alder  bush  about  six  feet  up. 
Its  eggs  are  four  in  number,  and  are  of  a  dirty 
white  color  and  are  about  the  size  of  a  small  hen's 
egg- 

A  "Road  Runner"  kills  snakes  in  a  very  funny 
manner.  He  first  finds  one  asleep  and  builds  a 
wall  around  him  of  cactus  leaves.  As  soon  as  the 
snake  wakes  up  he  sees  this  wall  and  tries  to  glide 
over  it,  but  it  pricks  him  too  much.  Finally  he 
gets  mad  and  strikes  right  and  left,  getting  in  re 
turn  a  mouth  full  of  prickly  spines.  At  last  he 
gets  so  enraged  that  he  fastens  his  fangs  into  his 
body  and  dies,  much  to  the  delight  of  his  feathery 
enemy,  who  is  watching  him  all  the  time. 

Of  these  I  have  some  very  fine  skins  ready  for 
mounting.  Each  $2  00 

Tf  you  wish  anything1  mentioned  in  this  Catalogue,  in  large 
quantities,  write  for  information. 


12 

WAR    ARROW    POINTS. 


No.   I  No.  2  No.  3 

75  cts.  $1  00  75  cts. 

BIRD  ARROW  POINTS. 


No.  6  No.  7  No.  8  No.  9 
$1  CO  $1  25  50  cts.  $1  CO 
These  points,  as  all  collectors  are  aware,  are  re 
markable  for  their  small  size,  beauty  of  workman 
ship  and  fine  material,  each  being  made  of  a  semi 
precious  stone,  such  as  obsidian,  agate,  chalcedony, 
camelian,  &c.  Many  are  found  of  exquisite  beauty. 
They  were  probably  used  for  bird  arrow  points, 
being  so  small.  They  are  much  sought  after  by 
collectors,  and  are  sometimes  called  jewelry  points, 
being  used  for  scarf  pins,  neck-laces  and  other 
articles  of  personal  adornment.  These  are  usually 
sold  by  dealers  in  curiosities  and  jewelers  at 
from  $1  00  to  $5  00  each.  They  are  extremely 
rare  and  will  soon  become  unattainable  at  any  price. 


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